Lead

I don't hear as much about lead poisoning anymore? Is it still a problem?

Yes, it's still a problem. Lead can harm almost every system in the human body. It is very harmful to the developing brain and nervous system of fetuses and young children. Currently, the "safe" blood lead level is 10 micrograms/deciliter. However, studies suggest that there is no level that is safe to a developing brain. Lead can also cause children to suffer from slowed growth, hearing problems, and headaches.

Lead is also harmful to adults. Adults can suffer from:

problems during pregnancy
other reproductive problems (in both men and women)
high blood pressure
problems with digestion
nerve problems
memory and concentration problems
muscle and joint pain

Too much lead in the body can seriously injure the brain, nervous system, red blood cells, and kidneys. High levels of lead in the body can cause mental retardation, seizures, blacking out, coma, and even death. In many cases, there are no symptoms or signs of high blood-lead levels or lead poisoning.

How does lead get into the body?

The most common cause of lead poisoning is from the lead paints that were used in the late 1970s and earlier. Lead is also in dust, soil, water, food, and in the air. Children can get lead poisoning by:

putting their hands or toys with lead dust on them in their mouths
eating the lead paint chips that peel off the walls
chewing on window sills and door frames
Lead is more dangerous to children than adults.
Babies and young children often put their hands and other objects in their mouths. These objects can have lead dust on them.
Children's growing bodies absorb more lead.
Children's brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead.

Most well and city water does not contain lead. But water can pick up lead inside the home from household plumbing that is made with lead materials. If you work with lead or have a hobby that uses lead, such as making pottery or stained glass, you can bring lead into your home on your hands or clothes. You may also track in lead from soil around your home. Some folk remedies, such as "Great" and "azarcon" used to treat an upset stomach, also contain lead.

How can I find out if my child or I have been exposed to lead?

The only way to be sure is with a quick and easy blood test. Your doctor should first test your child at six months and then on a regular basis after that. This is very important if your child lives in or often visits a home built before 1978. Talk with your doctor and your child's doctor to find out how often both of you should be tested.

How is lead poisoning treated?

Removing lead from the environment is the main treatment. In some cases, blood lead levels are lowered with medicines.

Why should pregnant women be concerned about lead poisoning?

A pregnant woman can pass lead to her fetus. Low levels of lead in the body when a child's brain is developing can slow the child's development and cause learning and behavior problems. To help prevent lead from affecting a child, pregnant women should not:

engage in any activity that disturbs lead-based paint
live in or be present in a house or apartment where work is under way that disturbs lead-based paint
return to a house or apartment where lead-based paint has been disturbed until at least 24 hours after the work has been completed

What can I do to help protect my family from lead?

Keep areas where children play as dust-free and clean as you can. Mop floors and wipe window ledges with a mixture of powdered dishwasher detergent and warm water. Wash toys and stuffed animals often. Make sure that children wash their hands before meals, after playing outdoors, at naptime, and at bedtime. Try to keep your children from eating dirt. Wash your hands before preparing food.
At least once a year, take your children under six years old to be tested for lead.
Keep children away from peeling paint. If your home was built before 1978, and you have peeling paint, call your state health or housing department for advice on whom to contact to help test your home for lead in paint. Don't try to remove lead paint yourself. To remove dangerous lead for good, you need to hire a lead "abatement" contractor. Lead abatement can also involve "encapsulating" or covering the lead paint under another type of coating approved by the EPA. Just painting over the hazard with regular paint is not enough.
Don't let children play under bridges, near highways, and near heavily traveled roads. Materials used in repairing bridges and highways, and gases released from cars and trucks cause high levels of lead in these areas.
Serve meals that are high in iron and calcium to help prevent lead from being absorbed into your child's body. Foods rich in iron include beans and eggs. Dairy products and dark green leafy vegetables are high in calcium. Do not store food or liquid in lead crystal glassware or old pottery. If you reuse old plastic bags to store or carry food, keep the printing on the outside of the bag.
Run cold water for at least a minute before using it. Never use hot water from the faucet to make baby formula or for cooking. If you have a lead service line, you may need to let the water run for up to 10 minutes.
If you work in construction or your hobby involves lead, change your clothes before going home and wash these clothes separately. Soils very close to homes may contain lead, so wipe your feet before entering your home, or remove your shoes before you enter.
If you are concerned about lead in your water, contact your local health department or water supplier to find out about testing your water. Boiling your water will not get rid of lead. If you think your plumbing might have lead in it, use only cold water for drinking and cooking. Also, run water for at least one minute before drinking it, especially if you have not used your water for a few hours. If you have a lead service line, you may need to let the water run for up to 10 minutes.

You and your family can learn more about lead together. Visit the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Lead Poisoning Kid's Page at www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/lead.htm. And visit the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's web site at http://www.hud.gov/offices/lead/leadtips.cfm.